Ozone, which forms an ultraviolet (UV) protection layer in the upper reaches of the atmosphere, is extremely harmful when produced at surface level.
It seems like Delhi is heading for another bleak winter this year, as the sudden increase in diesel cars and trucks in the national capital has escalated the level of ozone in the air.
Ozone, which forms an ultraviolet (UV) protection layer in the upper reaches of the atmosphere, is extremely harmful when produced at surface level.
The pollution levels are very high in some places like southwest Delhi's Dwarka, where the ozone levels at 500 micro grams. Punjabi Bagh and RK Puram showed 255 and 189 respectively.
Centre for Science and Environment Executive Director, Anumita Roy Chowdhury said: "Now Delhi has to deal with a new scare of ozone which has very serious health hazards. It can increase hospitalisation, cardiac arrest, respiratory disorders."
"Globally ozone is considered so bad that alert is sent to people that kids should not play outside, adults should not exercise," she said.
Experts believe this is due to increased motorisation and toxic gases from the tail pipes of vehicles, especially diesel cars.
Over the past two months the National Green Tribunal has taken up the issue of vehicular emissions on a daily basis, but the Centre has submitted studies to suggest that Delhi's poor air quality has nothing to do with vehicles. The studies by IIT-Delhi highlighted that old diesel vehicles contributed less than one per cent to the pollution.
Additional Solicitor General, Pinky Anand said, "The government is opposed to age related ban on vehicles and believes it should be fitness based criteria and has proposed more stringent implementation. Government has in principle accepted the ban on 15 year old diesel commercial vehicles."
A week before, in a World Bank report, Delhi has earned the dubious distinction of being the world's most polluted city.